What’s going on at Benalla’s ceramic mural?

Conceived in 1983, and completed in 2010, the iconic Benalla structure is feeling the effects of time.

At Benalla Rural City Council’s Finance and Planning Committee meeting on February 5 the issue was explained by BRCC manager facilities and information technology Greg Robertson.

“It’s quite complex, (as) it’s not just an old structure, it’s a piece of art,” he said.

“What’s happened is the adhesive that attaches the tiles to the concrete substrate has failed, and is progressively failing.”

Mr Robertson said a specialist firm had been engaged to do a comprehensive assessment of the structure, and provide guidance on how to proceed with repairs.

That process has now been completed, and the next stage is to fix the problem.

“A number of the tiles have been damaged, and they need to be made from scratch by a ceramic artist, which takes quite a bit of time,” he said.

“And we only have one ceramic artist ... that is working on it.”

But that is only one step in the process.

Mr Robertson said the delay in undertaking repairs was because a building firm had to be retained that was willing to do such a complex job.

“That’s been quite challenging,” he said.

He did, however, confirm that council had now found a builder willing to take it on, and the repairs were progressing.

“Under the careful direction of the director of the art gallery (Eric Nash), that artwork is being reassembled piece by piece.

“But it’s a painstaking process.”